Wednesday, April 13, 2016

I am very pleased to see Dr. Pournelle recognized for his many contributions to Man's exploration and development of space. It has been one of the great privileges of my life to have the opportunity to work with such a brilliant man and he continues to be an inspiration to those of us who believe in the importance of Man and Western civilization. Congratulations, Dr. Pournelle! - Vox

The National Space Society takes great pleasure in announcing that
its 2016 Robert A. Heinlein Memorial Award has been won by acclaimed
science fiction author Dr. Jerry Pournelle. This prestigious award
selected by an international vote of NSS members will be presented to
Dr. Jerry Pournelle at the 2016 International Space Development
Conference (ISDC).The public is welcome to
attend the conference and see the award presentation at the Sheraton
Puerto Rico Hotel and Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The ISDC will run
from May 18-22, 2016.

About Dr. Jerry Pournelle

This award recognizes Dr. Jerry Pournelle’s many years of support for
space science, exploration, development and settlement and his close
association with Robert Heinlein. He was active in the NSS predecessor,
the L5 Society, during its early years. Jerry served as co-chair of the
very first ISDC, NSS secretary, and as a Board member.

Jerry was also Chair of the Citizen’s Advisory Council on National
Space Policy. This group was active during the 1980s and was one of the
most effective groups promoting specific space related policy positions
at that time. Robert Heinlein was also an active member of that group.
The group’s early support of missile defense eventually led to the
perceived need for an inexpensive launcher. The briefing that he and two
others gave to then Vice President Quayle was instrumental in getting
the approval of the DC-X program, overcoming widespread skepticism about
the project. Jerry was present at White Sands on September 11, 1993
when the first large rocket, the DC-X vehicle, was reused.

Jerry has consistently supported the vision of self-sustaining human
settlements in space and on planetary surfaces, and as part of a free,
spacefaring civilization, which is at the very heart of the space
movement. Jerry’s work as a science fiction author, focusing on science
fiction with realistic physics, has contributed to a better
understanding of the limitations and the abilities of human space
operations. Few have made such a rich contribution to these fields.

About the Robert A. Heinlein Award

This award is presented once every two years for lifetime achievement
in promoting the goal of a free, spacefaring civilization. The winner
is decided by the vote of the entire NSS membership, not by the awards
committee. The award consists of a miniature signal cannon, on a
mahogany base with a black granite inlay and a brass plaque as shown.
The award concept came from Robert Heinlein’s classic book The Moon is a
Harsh Mistress. Some of the early award winners include Sir Arthur C.
Clarke, Carl Sagan, Neil Armstrong and Elon Musk. More information about
this award and the past winners is here.

Hmmm, not even a mention of his actual work in human space factors. He knows what decompression feels like, having done research back in the days when scientists would often try their stuff out on themselves as well as formal experimental subjects.

Even since I read The Mote in God's Eye in the eighth grade I have admired Pournelle the writer and thinker, but it was during his battle with brain cancer, when he hardly missed a day working on his excellent Chaos Manor blog despite getting zapped with enough gamma rays to turn Bruce Banner into the Hulk, that I came to admire Pournelle the man. He is truly an example of what Hemingway had in mind when he said, "Courage is grace under pressure."

The sad part is that Dr. Pournelle's most important work is the one the gets the least attention. "The Strategy of Technology" was the manual for How To Crush The Soviet Union. It led to a radical shift in American weapons procurement strategy, away from a qualitative to a quantitative advantage, leveraging our edge in computer technology...and we saw the results both in the collapse of the Soviet Union, and in the 1991 Gulf War.

Arguably the most influential work since Corbett's "Principles of Maritime Strategy."

Very distinguished list of past winners; Dr.Pournelle's inclusion was long overdue.

The award consists of a miniature brass naval cannon...The barrel is inscribed with one of Heinlein's favorite acronyms “TANSTAAFL” (There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch). The award concept came from one of Heinlein's classic novels, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress...

So when I looked up this award on wiki -- I am a bit confused -- there seems to be several awards generally called Heinlein awards --- one of which Dr Pournelle also won in 2006.

The person whom is way over due for recognition is G Harry Stine -- his non fiction books and model rocket books are sure to be found in the basement or bookshelf of all of that currently work in rockets/space and science...and his fiction and his work on Analog .. surely one of the greats...

The book is now an ebook, and expanded upon after ACC's death--- Neil McAleer's ARTHUR C. CLARKE: THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY. One of the more interesting sections is the 1984 blow-up between ACC and Heinlein during a SDI meeting at Larry Niven's home. The author quotes quite a bit from Dr Pournelle in describing the incident.

In the mid-Eighties I attended my first (and last) Science Fiction Writers Conference, at some hoity toity spread . . . might have been Pasatiempo?

Anyway Pournelle and the gang were featured, don't recall much except a funny running battle concerning Hard Science and Soft Science value . . . that was considered internecine thirty years ago! times done changed. All in good humor then. As I recall Pournelle was a Hard Sciencer stalwart.

Vox you sure do have a hard-on for Science Fiction Awards don't you? That fanboy side is showing. Jerry Pournelle is a system guy. He never leaves the Reservation. I'm sure he finds the Dark Ilk as horryifying as Orange Boy Boehner and the Nancy Boys. Has he told you that you need to be more civil yet? Pournelle and his career have obviously benefited from partnering with Larry Niven. Niven is the Last of the Old Sci-Fi guys. His Ringworld series actually starts with a feminist dying from wanting to be one of the boys. Even though he was so popular back in the day that the Kzinti became part of "STAR TREK" in the animated series, his old school patriarchal heroism and male dominated stories ensure none of the girlie men dare speak his name for fear of HYSTERIA outbreaks.

Jerry is the safe choice for them. He's PC enough to not rock the boat and tell the puppies to play nice, and his Larry Niven Phase is old school enough to not brand him a Cuck. But great things do not come from those who do not rock the boat or challenge the system. Galileo had many contemporaries that held the line for Greek beliefs of the Earth as the center of the Universe. The old poops in Rome liked to be seen near the center of the action. Today Galileo is Lionised and the collaborators are forgotten. Cutting edge can not be done when you back the system. Aside from the black ops programs the system fights the last war with what they made to fight the former enemies. Many a good man has payed by price for their cowardly play it safe attitudes. Play it safe has little appeal for me. Go Big or go home.

Joshua Sinistar wrote:Jerry is the safe choice for them. He's PC enough to not rock the boat and tell the puppies to play nice, and his Larry Niven Phase is old school enough to not brand him a Cuck. But great things do not come from those who do not rock the boat or challenge the system. Galileo had many contemporaries that held the line for Greek beliefs of the Earth as the center of the Universe. The old poops in Rome liked to be seen near the center of the action. Today Galileo is Lionised and the collaborators are forgotten. Cutting edge can not be done when you back the system. Aside from the black ops programs the system fights the last war with what they made to fight the former enemies. Many a good man has payed by price for their cowardly play it safe attitudes. Play it safe has little appeal for me. Go Big or go home.

Look fanboys. Jerry is not a puppy. Face the Truth already. He wants to keep playing in the sandbox and he won't take a position outside the box. Lionise him all you want to, but he's playing it safe in the SJW kitty litter.

Oh, brilliant and accomplished. That certainly makes any criticism unnecessary. After joining the elites why should he have to do anything anymore right? Sure he disdains the Gamer Gate Uprising, and gives a pass to Dino Porn, but that's just OK because he's accomplished and brilliant. Well now that he got this award he can just put it up on his mantle and continue to tell everyone to be civil.Just remember, we have always been at War with Eastasia. Big Brother is watching over you. OBEY.

The little faggot still can't grasp that it needs to back up his accusations with actual, specific examples instead of vague, inchoate claims like "disdains the Gamer Gate uprising" because its misshapen brain is so riddled with fungal lesions.

Congratulations to Dr. Jerry Pournelle, one of the most important essayists from the 1970s to the present, on winning this well-deserved award. As for Sinistar and Kudzu, knock off the flame war and get a job.THE COMPUTER IS YOUR FRIEND. THE COMPUTER WANTS YOU TO BE HAPPY. IF YOU ARE NOT HAPPY, THE COMPUTER WILL USE YOU FOR REACTOR SHIELDING.

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